Okay, I'll admit that I have a certain bias towards Rumiko Takahashi, being that I think she's one of the most creative people in Japan. That being said:
This book is the 27th volume in the Ranma 1/2 series. The story is about poor Ranma, cursed to change into a woman's body every time cold water is poured on him, and only hot water will change him back. Then, there's all of those women wanting to be his fiance, like Shampoo (who turns into a cat when splashed with cold water.)
This volume collects three major stories. The first is the "Terror of the Phoenix Sword" where rival Kuno purchases an egg of a Phoenix, which ends up landing on his head, thus hatching the egg, producing one of the most silliest looking creatures I've ever seen. The "bird" first sees Ranma and believes him to be its mortal enemy. So, it pecks at Ranma's head, day and night, while still perched on Kuno's head.
The second major story involves twins, Link and Pink, who are looking for revenge against the Chinese Amazonian, Shampoo, who currently works at a restaurant with her (great?) grandmother. Ranma also becomes a target since Shampoo told her Amazon newsletter that they were married. Then, there's "Evil and the Bean," a mini-story about a pesky demon that possesses different characters with a Lum reference to boot!
The third story focuses on thrifty Nibiki who is challenged by Kinnosuke, whose "lifestyle-fu is based on financial parasitism." The two of them go on outrageous dates, trying to get the other to pay for everything. Ranma and Akane are forced to tag along to make sure that Nibiki doesn't drive the family too far in debt...
While I'm a big fan of the series, I can honestly say that I probably don't even have half the series, but this volume is one of the better ones definately. With some of the more strange elements, like the puppet butler, to the more hilarious, the "Phoenix," Takahashi proves that even on volume 27 she can still write great stories.
I enjoyed each of the stories and all of the funny twists along the way, and it was nice that more supporting characters like Nibiki get their own stories every once and awhile. B+
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